The small group reduced further when, Emily, broke right away from the trees and into the clear. Just three of us remained, Holly running out front and two of us new zebras following in behind. My lungs burned and my legs ached as my body protested at the sustained exertion. Just at the point of exhaustion, the relentless thud of heavy footfalls and the rasp of heavy breathing re-energized me. With the extra spurt of speed, I gained on Holly and to avoid her rapid pumping arms and legs, I veered right. The sounds followed. I was prey, separated from the herd with a predator at my back. Every sense was alive as I forced myself beyond.
I hand brushed my arm, then grabbed. Twisting my body and with a rapid jerk, I pulled myself free. The end was near. I swung my head, left and right searching for an escape. To the right was open empty space and certain capture. To the left, Holly and the other new girl ran parallel to the line of trees.
Only one option remained, I broke hard to the left. At the moment of the turn, two arms and a hard chest collided crashed into my back. put off by the sudden change in direction. I stumbled and pitched forward, running frantically to maintain my balance. Upright was freedom, if I fell, it was all over. My breaths were nothing but harsh gasps through a dry throat, arms and legs made of lead. My body screamed enough but determination strong. With a final drive, I ran, re-joining the group of two zebras passing behind the trailing newcomer and around the far side. The relentless pounding of feet turned into a grunt, a shriek and the slap of skin on skin. I ran clear and the sounds and sense of pursuit ceased only to be replaced by shrieking and struggle.
After a few dozen more strides, I risked a look around. There were no pursuers. Behind, the screaming zebra struggled with the hunter. Brought to the ground, she pushed up off the ground only to be brought down again as the hunter grabbed her leg. Then he leapt was on her. She twisted and kicked with her legs as she struggled for her freedom. She was finished, the trainers had caught up and waited near the hunter. With one knee on her back, he pinned her to the ground and grabbed her hands pinned them together.
"Tie them off." his voice carried clearly.
One of the trainers moved forward and expertly looped the rope around her wrists trapping her hands together in front of her. After a few seconds the top was tied off, the trainer holding the free end. Even if she managed to rise there was no escape. She continued to struggle and sweat poured off the hunter as he fought to get her under control. He was beginning tire as well and I wondered if I was going to observe a stalemate.
The trainer holding the rope brought an end to it. "Roll her onto the rope, Sir."
The hunter grabbed, his prize, pushed her hands against her stomach and rolled her over. Face down, she bucked and twisted but that simply created an opening for the trainer to slip the end of the rope under her body and pull it tight, trapping her arms against her stomach.
The hunter stood up panting furiously. He glanced at our direction then refocused on his prize. He lined up then leapt at her, grabbing her legs and pinning them together as a trainer quickly slipped a noose over her ankles. With a quick movement, he slipped the end of the rope under the rope around her waist and pulled her feet against her ass. Her only resistance was her shrieking.
As a final indignity, he handed a red ball-gag to the hunter who pressed it against her mouth. She pressed her lips tight. He held the ball-gag in place with one hand as he pinched her nose with the other finally forcing it in as she gasped for breath. Once tied off he stood up, admired his prize and kneeled next to her running his fingers along her body, exploring.
"Time for a photo, Sir." One of the trainers pulled out a large professional camera and lined it up. The hunter posed, firstly kneeling behind her then lifting her by the shoulders and presenting her gagged face to the camera. Finally, he rolled her on her side as the trainer took yet more photos.
Satisfied, the trainers took over unhooking her the rope that pulled her legs back, allowing her legs to straighten. A final rope was looped between her bound ankles and wrists, and once completed, her wrists were released from her belly and the loop pulled tight bringing her bound ankles to her wrists. While this was going on, trainer brought up a pole that they threaded in between her ankles and wrist. A trainer took up position at each end of the pole and lifted her. Unsupported, her head hung down and for a moment, we locked eyes.
My heart hammered away and my hands shook reflecting the kaleidoscope of emotion surged through me. Horror of watching her get thrust up like an animal knowing that had I not been quicker, it would have been me, tied, trussed and gagged hanging from a pole. Guilt from that final look knowing that I had sacrificed her to save myself. Exhaustion from the tremendous exertion and the fear from the chase itself. Then the final emotion that came from nowhere and took me by surprise. Elation, pure elation at the thrill of the chase and evading capture. Elation, relief, guilt, horror, raced around inside like a tornado. In that one moment I understood Holly's addiction to the hunt. I was light headed and euphoric, more alive than I could ever remember.
"It was a good catch," said a calm Holly.
I stared, rooted to the spot as the naked bound body swung beneath the pole. The caught girl heading off to whatever fate her hunter had lined up for her. "Oh?"
"She didn't bail out. She fought hard and she never used the safe word. She should be proud."
"Oh." Surprised as I was, Holly made sense.
"I hope you fight like that when you're caught." She slapped me on the shoulder and jogged towards the distant herd.
Trepidation crashed on top of the emotional turmoil racing round inside. With a final glance at the diminishing figures, I jogged after Holly, back to the safety of the herd.
When we returned, we found the members of the herd observing a different spectacle, a zebra wrapped in a blanket walking off between two khaki clad women.
"She quit out?" Holly asked, her disgust evident.
"Yep," Jenny replied. "lasted about a minute, then quit out. They've just finished up with the aftercare."
"Phffft! What a waste," Holly replied.
Jenny turned to Holly. "What about you. You've lost a zebra?"
"Caught. Put up a great fight. Got carried off, bound, gagged and slung under a pole."
"A new girl too?" Jenny's eyebrows shot up. "Impressive."